With your group, research and identify a documented experiment in social psychology that examines the nature of persuasion, conformity, or obedience in groups or societies that you have not already studied in this course.
research and identify the experiment you will discuss, and then discuss the experiment according to the points below, in your discussion.
What did the experimenters conclude based on the results of the study?
Do you think there were any biases or flaws in the design of the experiment? What is the potential impact of these flaws?
Sample Answer
Social Media Campaign Analysis: “Oceans Without Limits”
While “Oceans Without Limits” primarily focuses on marine conservation through documentary filmmaking, its core mission prominently features ending plastic pollution in the Western Indian Ocean. This campaign serves as an excellent example of an environmental social media effort.
Campaign’s Purpose:
The “Oceans Without Limits” campaign, through its documentary and associated online presence, aims to:
- Raise awareness about the devastating impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems, particularly in the Indian Ocean.
- Educate the public on the extent of the plastic crisis, including microplastics, and its connection to human health.
Full Answer Section
- Inspire behavioral change by encouraging individuals to reduce their single-use plastic consumption and support sustainable alternatives.
- Advocate for action by highlighting the need for collective effort to combat plastic pollution and supporting initiatives like remote island cleanups and scientific research.
- Promote their documentary film as a key tool for driving awareness and generating funds for their ongoing mission.
The inferred calls to action include watching their film, sharing their message, supporting their clean-up initiatives, and making conscious choices to reduce plastic use in daily life.
Campaign’s Target Audience:
The campaign’s target audience is quite broad but leans towards:
- Environmentally conscious individuals: Those already concerned about marine life and pollution.
- Young adults (18-35): Likely to be active on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, drawn by compelling visuals and impactful storytelling.
- Travel and nature enthusiasts: People who appreciate natural beauty, especially marine environments, and are therefore more receptive to messages about protecting them.
- Educational institutions and researchers: Interested in the scientific discoveries and data shared through their expeditions.
- Policymakers and NGOs: Potentially influenced by the film’s findings and advocacy.
- General public in coastal regions: Individuals directly affected by marine pollution and potentially motivated to participate in local actions.
Campaign Posts Analysis:
Given “Oceans Without Limits” focuses heavily on their documentary and expeditions, I will simulate typical posts they might create on different platforms.
Post 1: Instagram
- Visual: A stunning, high-quality image of a pristine coral reef teeming with diverse marine life, with a subtle hint of a single plastic bottle entangled in the background (or a diver carefully removing it).
- Caption: “Journey with us beneath the waves to uncover the hidden beauty and the silent struggle of our oceans. Every piece of plastic has a story, and often, it’s one of devastation. Our expedition through the Western Indian Ocean revealed both breathtaking wonders and the shocking truth of plastic pollution even in remote archipelagos. Your actions ashore ripple across the globe. What’s your pledge to protect our blue planet today? #OceansWithoutLimits #PlasticPollution #MarineLife #IndianOcean #CleanSeas #ProtectOurOceans #Sustainability #MakeADifference”
- Analysis:
- Platform’s typical user base: Instagram is highly visual, popular among younger demographics, and often used for sharing aspirational content (like travel, nature, and environmental causes). Its users are drawn to high-quality photography and video.
- Tone, visuals, hashtags, language, or interactivity: The tone is evocative and urgent but also inspiring. The visual is designed to immediately capture attention with its beauty, then subtly introduce the problem, creating an emotional connection. The language is poetic (“hidden beauty,” “silent struggle”) but direct about the issue. Hashtags are numerous and highly relevant, increasing discoverability for users interested in environmentalism and ocean conservation. The question at the end (“What’s your pledge?”) encourages direct interaction and commitment.
- Overall campaign objective: This post directly supports raising awareness about plastic pollution’s impact on marine life and inspires individual behavioral change. The visual appeal and direct call to action align with the campaign’s goal of mobilizing its audience to protect the oceans.
Post 2: Facebook
- Visual: A short video (30-60 seconds) clip from their documentary showing scientists collecting microplastic samples, interspersed with footage of marine animals affected by plastic. The clip would feature a narrator explaining the science behind microplastic pollution.
- Caption: “Did you know microplastics are now found in almost every corner of our ocean â and even in the food we eat? Our latest expedition for ‘Oceans Without Limits’ uncovered alarming concentrations of these tiny particles in remote areas of the Indian Ocean, impacting marine ecosystems and potentially human health. We believe knowledge is power. Watch a snippet of our documentary to understand the invisible threat and learn actionable steps you can take to reduce your plastic footprint. Link in bio for the full film and more research findings. Let’s talk about the solutions! #PlasticFreeFuture #Microplastics #OceanScience #EnvironmentalHealth #CommunityAction #OceansWithoutLimits”
- Analysis:
- Platformâs typical user base: Facebook has a broader, often older demographic than Instagram, and its users are more inclined to share informative videos, engage in discussions, and respond to calls for action that involve learning or community participation.
- Tone, visuals, hashtags, language, or interactivity: The tone is informative and educational, with a sense of urgency. The video format is well-suited for Facebook, allowing for a deeper dive into the scientific aspect of the problem compared to a static image. The language is more explanatory, using terms like “alarming concentrations” and “invisible threat.” Hashtags are relevant but slightly less numerous than on Instagram, prioritizing broader reach. The call to action (“Watch a snippet… learn actionable steps… Let’s talk about the solutions!”) is clear and invites both learning and discussion in the comments.
- Overall campaign objective: This post directly supports raising awareness through scientific education and promoting behavior change by offering “actionable steps.” It leverages Facebook’s video capabilities to deliver a more detailed, scientific message, aligning with the campaign’s purpose of informing and empowering its audience.
Critiques of the Campaign:
- Limited Direct Localized Calls to Action (for Global Campaigns): While “Oceans Without Limits” discusses cleanups, for a broad global campaign focused on plastic reduction, the general calls to action can sometimes feel distant or overwhelming for individuals in specific locations like Nairobi. A critique could be a missed opportunity to directly link the overarching narrative to hyper-local initiatives. For instance, collaborating with local recycling centers in Nairobi, highlighting specific Kenyan clean-up drives, or showcasing Kenyan individuals making a difference could foster a stronger sense of personal responsibility and participation among the Kenyan audience.
- Potential for “Doom and Gloom” Fatigue: While the campaign effectively highlights the devastating impacts, environmental campaigns can sometimes lead to “doom and gloom” fatigue, making people feel helpless rather than empowered. While the campaign strives for solutions, a critique might be to ensure a more balanced and consistent emphasis on positive, actionable solutions and success stories to maintain audience optimism and motivation. For example, showcasing local Kenyan innovators turning plastic waste into valuable products (as mentioned by CS Barasa in news) could be more prominently featured.
- Monetization Transparency and Impact Tracking: As the campaign promotes a documentary for purchase/rental, a critique could be the need for clearer transparency on how the proceeds directly contribute to their stated goals (e.g., “X% of film sales go directly to funding remote island cleanups”). While the website might detail this, social media posts could more frequently reiterate the tangible impact of viewer support. This builds greater trust and motivates more viewers to engage financially, directly supporting the campaign’s purpose.
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